Strangers On This Road We Are On: A Literature Review of Pooling in On-Demand Mobility Services

Abstract

Ridepooling service options introduced by transportation network companies (TNCs) and microtransit companies provide opportunities to increase shared-ride trips in vehicles, thereby improving congestion and environmental factors. This paper reviews the existing literature available on ridepooling and related services, specifically focusing on pooling options available from on-demand transportation companies. The paper summarizes the existing knowledge on the use of pooled-ride services, factors in travel mode service options for customers, available policy and planning strategies to incentivize sharing vehicles, and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on shared-ride travel. Overall, research shows that ridepooling options are more likely to be considered by public transit users who have lower household incomes, while ridesourcing users of upper-class backgrounds are less likely to consider moving to a shared-ride service. Travel time and trip cost are the most important factors for travelers determining whether to use a ridesplitting or microtransit service rather than a ride-alone ridesourced trip. Existing policy and planning tools targeting pooled travel or TNCs can be expanded on and specified for on-demand ridepooling services, such as offering better incentives to use shared vehicles and increased access to curb areas or travel lanes, but the most effective strategies will include increasing the user costs for parking or riding alone.